ARTIFICIAL SWABMING. 171 



it would be necessary, in loosening the frames, to pry 

 them laterally, or towards each other, by which they 

 might be brought so close together, as to crush the bees, 

 injure the brood, disfigure the combs, or even kill the 

 queen. 



The frames may be all loosened for removal in less than 

 a minute :* by this time the sprinkled bees will have filled 

 themselves, or if all have not, the intelligence that sweets 

 have be'en furnished, will diffuse an unusual good nature 

 through the honied realm. The Apiarian should now 

 gently push the third frame from either end of the hive^ a 

 little nearer to the fourth- frame ; and then the second as 

 near as he can to the third, to get ample room to lift out 

 the end one, without crushing its comb, or injuring any 

 of the bees. To remove it, he should take hold of its two 

 shoulders which rest upon the rabbets, and carefully lift 

 it, so as to crush no bees by letting it touch the sides of 

 the hive, or the next frame. If it is desired to remove 

 any particular frame, room must be gained by moving, in 

 the same way, the adjoining ones on each side. As bees 

 usually build their combs slightly waving, it will be found 

 impossible to remove a frame safely, without making room 

 for it in this way ; and if the tops of the frames have not 

 sufficient play on the rabbets, and between each other, 

 the frames cannot be lifted out of the hive, without crush- 

 ing the combs, and killing the bees. In handling the 

 frames, be careful not to incline them from their perpen- 

 dicular, or the combs will be liable to break from their 

 own weight, and fall out of the frames. 



If more combs are to be examined, after lifting out the 



* "Without smoke or sweetened water, ten minutes may be spent in opening and 

 shutting a single frame in a Huber-hive, and even then some of the bees will 

 probably be crushed. The great caution recommended by Huber in opening his 

 hives, shows that he did not know how to make himself independent of the anger 

 of the bees. 



